Paper-box machine.



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No. 634,627. Patented uct. ui, |899;

F. PETERS.

PAPER BX MAGI'HNE.

(Application Med lar. G, 1899) filo Model.) n. 3 Sheets--Sheet 2.

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"F M. PETERS.y PAPER Box MACHINE. (Appumioi 'mea nu. a, 1399.

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ful Improvements in Paper-Box Machines,

UNITED SraThsA PATENT Fries.

FRANK M. PETERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PAPER-BOX MACHINE.

Application filed March 6, 1899 To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. PETERS, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useof which'the following is a specication.

`This invention 'relates to paper-box machines, and has for its object tolprovide means whereby boxes of paper or other like material 1o of the type known as folding or knockdown boxesmay be readily and expeditiously assembled or setup so las to bring' them into proper formand condition to receive their contents. The apparatus is more r 5 particularly devised for the purpose of carrying out the method and producing the means for packing biscuit, crackers, or the like set forth in an application filed byme November 2S, 1898, Serial No. 697,661, butis zo adapted, of course, for use in setting up folding paper boxes of various types and is not limited in its application to theY speeiiic method and structure set fort-h in my abovespecified prior application.

The present invention consists in certain novel features which I will now proceed to describe, and will then particularly point'out in the claims. l

In the `accompanying drawings, Figure l is 3o a'plan view of anapparatus embodying my invention in one form. Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section through the table, showing the machine in the position it assumes before the beginning of operation. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the position of the carton or blank into a box; and Fig. 4 is a` similarviewshowing the position of the parts after the operation of folding the box in the 4o machine has been completed and the former the legs ll-and has mounted thereon a 5o box-formerl l5.

standard l2, onwhich is pivotally mounted the boX-former-carrying arm 13. The -forward end; of this arm i's extended downward, as indicated at 14, and has secured to it the any suitable material and size and is of a shape and size substantially identical with parts during the operation of folding up the Saidformer may be'made of' dated October 10, 1899.

that of the interior of the box. In practice I have found it convenient to make this former of wood and to secure it to the lower end lof the arm 13 by means of a disk 16 and fastening-screwsl, passingthrough said disk into the former, soptha't this latter may be readily removed, if desired. The former is recessed at itsV ends, as indicated at 18, for the purposes hereinafter described. I find it con# venient to provide the arm 13 with a counter- Weight l9'at its end opposite to that to whichv the former is secured in order to counterbalance this latter. A

In order to provide means for moving the employ an operating-'rod 20, the upper end of which is pivotally. connected to the arm 13, said rod passing downward through a slot 2l inthe Ytable l() and being connected at its lower end to a foot-lever 22, which is pivotally mounted on a suitable support between its ends. The connection between the footlever 22 and rod 20 is a lost-motion connec- Vtion or one such as to permit of the free downward motion of that end of the lever to which the rod is connected without moving the lever from its normal position will cause said rod to move upward. A simple and effective means of. eifecting this connection is that shown in the drawings, in which the rod 20 is provided with a slot 23 in its lower end, and the lever 22 is' provided with a pin 24, which engages said slot and which when pressed against .the upper end thereof serves to lift the rod, the arm 13, and the former l5. The foot-lever 22 Vis supported on a shaft or axisr25, which is in turn supported on crosspieces 26, connecting the legs l1, or said footlever may be supported in any other suitable manner. I

Upon the table l0 there is provided, immediatel y under the former 15, an upwardly-pro. jecting block or platen 27, which is of a size the box, and consequently, to the under face of the former l5. Immediately` adjacent to said platen and rearward'thereof there is located a folding-blade 28, which is pivoted at 29 by its edge nearest to said platen and is 4 adapted to lie normally horizontally upon the table, but being capable ot being swung up the rod, While upward motion of said end ofA substantially equal to that of the bottom ofy former l5 toward and from the table 10, I

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atvright angles thereto, as indicated in Fig. 3. In order to operate this folding-blade, lthere is provided underneath the same an opening 30 in the table lO to receive a block 3l, secured to the under side of the blade 28 and .having a projection 32, to which is pivoted one end of a link 33. The-other end of the link 33 is pivoted to the front end of a lever 34, which lever is itself pivoted between its ends to a downward projection 35 from the under side of the table l0. To the rear end of the lever 34E is pivoted the upper end of a rod 35, the lower end of which rod is connected to the rear end of the foot-lever 22. The connect-ion between the rod 35 and footlever 22 is similar to that between the rod 2O and said foot-lever 22, but reversed, being a lostmotion connection, which will impart movement to the rod 35 when the rear end of the footlever 22 is depressed, but which will leave said end of said lever free to move upward without imparting motion to said rod. As shown, this connection is effected by pro viding the lower end of the rod 35iL with a slot 36, while the foot-lever is provided with a pin 37 to engage said slot and bear against the lower end thereof when the foot-lever is depressed. In order to return the several parts just referred to to their normal position when the foot-lever is released, I provide a spring 3S, which in the present instance is shown as having one end connected to the under side of the table lO, while its other end is connected to the upper end of the rod 35a. The position and connections of this spring may, however, obviously be varied.

There is provided upon the upper side of the table IO a rectangular gage 39, by means of which the position of the blank upon the table relatively to the platen and former may be automatically determined, and I prefer to provide upon said table a raised platform or bed 40, upon which the lining-sheets may be placed in case the machine is usedin the forming of the packages set forth in my priorapplication hereinbefore referred to.

In order to make clear the mode of operation of my machine, I will explain the manner in which the same is used in the operation of folding a paper box into such shape and condition as to adapt it to receive its intended contents. The parts being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the blanks, which are indicated at 41, are placed in a pile at the right hand of the operator. The operator then raises the former I5 by depressing the front end of the foot-lever 22, and thereby raising the rear end, thus imparting an upward mo tion to the rod 20 and causing the arm I3 to swing upward at its forward end, carrying with it the former. placed upon the platen. 27 and the foot-lever is released, permitting the former l5 to descend upon the blank and hold the same firmly/between it and the platen by that portion of said blank which will constitute the bottom of the completed box. The frontpor- The box-blank is thention of the blank is then folded up against the former l5, the fold occurring along the front line of the bottom of the box, and the folded portion being retained in position by the pressure of the thumbs of the operator. The end flaps of the front portion of the blank are then folded against the ends of the former by the lingers of the operator, said iiaps being folded around the front vertical corners thereof, and the end flaps of the bottom of the box are next folded vertically upward against the end faces of the former around the bottom edges thereof. These several parts thus folded being heldin position by the thumbs and lingers of the operator, the back portion of the blank is folded up by means of the folding-blade 28. To accomplish this, the foot-lever 22 is depressed at its rear end, Whereu pon by means of the rod 35, llever 34, and link 33 the folding-blade 2S is swung up into the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby folding the box-blank along the line of the rear edge of its bottom, as shown in said figure. Finally, the locking-.flaps of the rear portion of the blank which have thus been brought up into the grasp of the operator are folded forward, andA the locking-tongues are tucked into the slits formed to receive them in the front end iiaps. Itis during this tucking operation that the recesses 18 are of particular utility, since they permit the material of the blank to be pressed inward, so as to cause the slits to open or gap, and this facilitales the introduction of the locking-tongues. The box being thus practically completed to the point where it is ready to receive its contents, the former l5 is Withdrawn by again depressing the frontend of the lever 22, while the operator restrains the box from moving along with the former, whereupon the box may be removed from under the former and a second blank placed in position, or the former lowered, as may be desired. The raised platen 27 holds the box-blank above the table in such a manner that it may be readily and quickly grasped by the operator and serves to prevent any fumbling of the blank and consequent loss of time. The gage 39 serves in an obvious manner to properly center the blank with relation to the platen and former, while the folding-blade properly folds. the inaccessible rear portion of the blank, while the hands of the operator are engaged in holding the previously-folded portions of the blank.

Where packages such as those set forth in my prior application are to be made up by the aid of this machine, the lining-sheets are placed upon the bed'or platform 40 and are removed therefrom and placed upon the platen simultaneously with the blanks and folded along with them in the man nerset forth in said application. lVhile I prefer to employ the former inJ such a way as to clamp the boxblank on the table, yetitis not essential that it should actually do so, as it needs only to bebroughtinto juxtaposition thereof inorder ICO IIO

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634,627 y Ave to form a guide in the folding of the blank, and Where lining-sheets are interfolded with the box-blanks I prefer to arrest the movement of the former immediately above or adjacent to the lining-sheet in order that this latter will notbe marred by any pressure from the former.

It will be observed that the table upon which the body of the box-blank rests presents a hat imperforate and iixed resting-surface for the blank as to that portion thereof n,

which lies between the blank and the former when this latter is at its nearest approximation to the table. This is true Whether the blank be allowed to rest directly upon the table or Whethery a platen or block be employed in order to receive this portion of the blank. It will also be observed that by the term former I indicate a Vblock or body of a shape and size substantially identical with that of the interior of the completed box and around which the box may be shaped or formed. I do not include in this term former forming mechanism which is operative in bending the portions of the blank to bring it tothe desired shape.

I have shown a simple, inexpensive, and eliicient form of my improved machine; but said form is shown as illustrative only, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself strictly to the details therein set forth', which, while some of them embody features of my invention, are merely illustrative of the form thereof, which I prefer. For instance, other mechanism than that shown may be employed for moving the former toward and from the table and for actuating the folding-blade, and some of the features described may be dispensed With Without departing from the principle of my invention.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to employ in a paper-box machine a tubular die-block, into which a blank is forced by a plunger to partly fold the same, together with laterally-sliding folders, to bend the other iaps of the box into place. In this construction, however, there is no imperforate table or platen upon which the blank may rest during the operation of folding it up into shape. V I

I am also aware that it has been proposed to employ a fixed former located in permanent relation to a xed table on which the blank lies,said ltable having apertures through which movable forming mechanism is protruded to partly fold the blank around the former. In a machine of this character there has also been employed a swinging plate standing always at an angle above the table in front thereof, and serving, .when swung up against the former, to bring into proper relative position thereto a separate box-bottom.

I do not wish to be understood as including within my'invention either of the constructions above set forth, from which my machine is clearly distinguished by the presence therein of a xed table or platen which is imperforate as to that portion thereof which is opposite the abutting face of the former, in conjunction Witha former movable toward and from said table or platen, and around which former the box-body may be bent to shape, either Wholly or partially, by hand or other- Wise. e

I claim-- l. A machine for making boxes of fixed interior dimensions for packing biscuit, crackers and the like, comprising a former having` an outer contour substantially that of the inner xed contour of the box to be formed, and a bed or table having a hat continuous supporting-surface for the blank, of an area equal to at least that portion of the box-blank forming the bottom of the box when folded, and the table and former having a relative movement, and suitable means for actuating the movablemember, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for forming boxes for biscuit, crackers and the like, the combination with a bed or table having a flat continuous supporting-surface for the blank, of a movable former supported above the bed or table and having an external contour substantially like the interior contour of the box to be formed, and vmeans for moving the former into position over the blank to permit the latter to be folded around it and for Withdrawing it from the box when formed, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a bed or table, a former movable toward and from said bed or table, and a swinging folding-blade pivotally supported on said table, of afoot-lever,and connestingy mechanism whereby movement of said foot-lever in one direction Will actuate the former, While movement of said foot-lever 'in the opposite direction will actuate the folding-blade, substantially as described.

4. In abox-machine, the combination, with a bed or table having a continuous supporting-surface on which a box-blank may lie hat, of a former movable toward and from said bed or table, said bed or table being provided with an aperture adjacent to the former,a folding-blade pivotally connected with the 'table above said aperture and normally lying substantially in the plane of its top, and a footlever operatively connected with said foldingblade to swing the same upward toward the former and thereby fold the rear portion of the blank against the-same, substantially as described.

5. Ina box-machine, the combination, With a bed or table, of au arm pivotally supported thereon and carryinga box-blank, a foldingblade pivotally supported on said table, a foot-lever, and operating-rods connecting said foot-lever With the former-carrying arm and folding-blade, said rods and foot-lever having a pin-and-slot connection whereby said foot-lever is adapted to aotuate either of said IIO rods Without affecting the other, substantially as described.

6. In a box-machine, the combination, with a bed o'r table on which the box-blank may lie fiat and a former movable toward and from the same, of a folding-blade pivotally supported on said bed or table and normally lying substantially in the plane of its top, a foot-lever, connecting mechanism between said 'foot-lever and folding-blade whereby the latter may be swung against the former, and

Witnesses:

FREDERICK O. GOODWIN, IRVINE MILLER. 

